Loaded on offense, Warriors say the key is D

Sunday

With almost the entire offense back from a year ago, East Gaston hopes to score in bunches this fall.

“We’ve got more than enough weapons,” East Gaston coach Sean Joyce said. “The (opposing) defense is going to have to respect everything.”

The Warriors return nine offensive starters: three linemen, one tight end and five skill position players. That includes quarterbacks Tyler Price and Austin Woods, the latter being a playmaker who can do damage from several skill positions in addition to quarterback.

Related: East Gaston returning starters, schedule, etc.

Players on the current roster accounted for 93 percent of the team’s rushing last year, 54 percent of the receiving and all but one 21-yard completion of the passing.

“I think we’re very comfortable,” Price said. “I think we’re still kind of young. We’ve got a lot of juniors. … I think we’re only going to get better as the season goes on.”

The other returning skill position players in the Warriors’ spread option offense are fullback Dontavis Walker, wingback B.J. Robbins and receiver Bailey Crane. Morgan Ensley is the tight end. The returning linemen are Jordan Abernathy (all-conference a year ago), Sam McInnis and Alex Furr.

Robbins, who scored eight touchdowns last year, enjoyed a huge preseason. Although not a returning starter, junior George Miller is also showing promise.

The Warriors averaged 29 points over their last seven games last year, a stretch that started with a 30-point night against eventual 2A state champion East Lincoln, albeit in defeat.

Unfortunately for East Gaston, all this offensive potential does come with an asterisk.

“I feel confident that we’re going to be able to move the ball, but if we’re going to give up 40 points a game, it’s not going to matter,” Joyce said.

The truth is the Warriors gave up 46.6 points per game last season, including 78 against South Point and 79 in the regular-season finale against West Mecklenburg. The defense won’t be any more experienced than last year because only four starters return.

Ensley, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior, is the heart of that defense from his linebacker position. He’s joined by fellow returnees Crane at defensive back, Corey Hughes at linebacker and Kendall Jeffries at defensive back as they collectively try to figure out things on that side of the ball.

“It’s all, I wouldn’t say heart, but it’s more of a mentality,” said Ensley, who’s drawing interest from Appalachian State, Elon, East Carolina, Charlotte and North Carolina. “It’s all about people wanting to go get the football. … If we all have that mindset, then we’ll be fine.”

East Gaston lost two premier athletes the coaches were planning on having at their disposal this fall. Linebacker/fullback Jalen Nash transferred to Southlake Christian and DeSean Murray, the school’s basketball star, transferred to Northside Christian. Murray hadn’t played football the past two years but had been working out with the team over the summer and was slated as a wide receiver and outside linebacker.

“We’re putting people on the field that’s going to get the job done, but some guys are just blessed with athletic ability,” Joyce said.

There’s good and bad for East Gaston as it switches from the MEGA 7 3A/4A Conference to the Big South. The good: The Warriors can forget their trips to Charlotte as they rejoin their Gaston County rivals. The bad: The competition appears to get tougher from top to bottom.

Although hopeful his players will come around, Joyce said it’s going to be a long year if his team plays the way it did Friday in a scrimmage against Surry Central — even in victory. And the Warriors received little respect from the Big South’s coaches, who picked East Gaston last in a preseason conference poll.

Price is aware of the prediction and said the players know what to do to avoid making it come true: “Working hard every day,” he said. “Not just turning it on Friday nights.”

You may contact Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843 or twitter.com/gazettephil.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.